Electrically-controlled switch.



Patented Aug. [2, I902.

W. L. R. EMMET. ELECTRIC-ALLY CONTROLLED SWITCH.

a N s, 1899.)

(Application fil (No Model.)

. mm m Jnventorf William LeREtmmeb.

Witnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. R. EMMET, OF SOI-IENEOTADY, NEl/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ZPatent No. 706,540, dated August 12, 1902. Application filed November 3, 1899. Serial No. 735,702. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: the back of which project metallic posts 3, to Be it known that I, WILLIAM LE ROY EM- which the circuit-terminals 4 may be secured. MET, a citizen of the United States, residing These posts terminate on the front side of the at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State base in two contact-terminals, as 5 5, adapt- 5 5 5 of New York, have invented certain new and ed to be bridged by a laminated bridge-conuseful Improvements in Electrically Oontact 6, mounted upon an arm or extension of trolled Switches, (Case No. 1,473,) of which an armature 7 of the circuit-closing magnet. the followingis a specification. Fixed to the terminal 5 and the arm which This invention relates to an electrically-concarries the bridging-contact 6 are two stout 1o trolled switch in which a circuit maybe closed elastic strips of metal, such as phosphoror opened from a distant point. bronze, upon which are mounted carbon The object of the invention is to provide a blocks 8 8, a pair of which cooperates with device capable of such control which may be each pair of contacts. The bundle of lamicompact in structure and effective in operanated strips which form the bridging-contact r 5 tion. 6 is yoke-shaped, the two limbs of the yoke The invention embodies various structural engaging the contact-terminals 5 5, and a features, the description of which will be more pairot carbon contacts 8 8 shunt the brake fully hereinafter set forth and the novelty. at each limb of the yoke. The armature 7is of which will be specifically indicated in the pivoted in two standards or brackets 9 9, 7o 20 claims. 7 leaving a space in which the switch-operat- In constructing the switch I mount the coning magnet 10 may be inclosed. Two stout tact-terminals by which the circuit is made pole-pieces are secured to the ends of the core and broken at the top of the device, thereby of this magnet by means of bolts 11, engagpreventing any arcing which may take place ing the two sides of the pole-piece formed by 25 from damaging the o'perativeparts- The mova saw-cut 12, formed therein. I

able armature which carries the circuit clos-v The magnet may be secured to the supporting and breaking contacts is journaled on an ing-base by bolts, as indicated in dotted lines, axis belowthe contact-terminals and movable engaging the pole-pieces. The axis of the in a plane to and from the same, the controlarmature is at or near the plane of the lower o ling-magnet which closes the switch being side of the pole-pieces, and the ends of the housed within the space formedrbelow the casting which forms the armature are encontact terminals and between the armalarged, as indicated at 7, and have a curved ture and the supporting-board, and the tripswell, so that as the armature swings away ping devices which control the opening of the from the pole-piece the air-gap will change 3 5 switch being also between the plane of the but little at or near the lower edge of the pole armature and the supporting-board. By this pieces, thereby permitting the lines of force arrangement a very compact organization is to act effectively in swinging the armature provided, and but little room is required for toward the magnet when the circuit is closed a switch of large capacity. and to bring the body of the armature into 0 40 In the drawings which illustrate my invenactive relation to the pole-pieces. The relation, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, the tion ofthis curved edge and the pivot on plane of the section being indicated by the which it swings to the pole-faces is such that a .line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevapart of the armature swings through a field of tion, and Fig. 3 is a diagram, of the circuit slightly-varying magnetic densitynamely, 5 5 connections of a switch embodying my imthat part which is involved by the curved provements. edge of the armature while another part of Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a the armature swings over a wide gap through switchboard or other insulating-support upon a widely-varyin g field. The arm 13, proj ectwhich the switch is mounted. The switch ingbelowthe armature-pivot,cooperates with I00 50 itself comprises an insulating-base 2, of slate a latch 14; for opening the switch. The lower or other insulating fireproof material, from portion of the arm 13 is shod with a hardonod steel piece 15 to engage the latch and prevent l wear. The releasing-magnet 16 is mounted on the floor of the support which carries the armature 7. Its armature 14 is pivoted on the supporting-frame and provided with a forked end at 17, in which is placed a movable catch 18, which acts as a detent for the armature 7. A pin 19, connecting the prongs of the fork, extends through ahole formed in the dog somewhat larger than the pin, so as to permit a certain amount of relative freedom of motion, which is normally taken up by a leaf-spring 20.

WVhen the circuit is closed, a plunger 21, acting against a compression-spring, is forced inwardly by a projection in the armaturecasting, as indicated at 22. The plunger and spring are housed within a tubular support lagged fast to the base by set-screws, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2. When the apparatus is set up in a vertical position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the tension of the springs upon which the shuntcontacts 8 8 are mounted may be relied upon, in connection with gravity, to produce a quick rupture of the circuit, and by making these springs of sufficient elasticity the plunger 21 and its controlling-spring may be dispensed with.

The movement of the armature when the apparatus is tripped is arrested by a stop 23, which may be covered with leather or a durable soft fabric to cushion the blow.

The controlling-circuits 0f the switch are indicated in Fig. 3, in which 10 and 16 repre* sent the two controlling-magnets of the switch, 7 the switch-controlling armature, and 14 the releasing armature. A hand controlled switch 24, which may be located at any accessible point, permits either the magnet 10 or 16 to be cut into circuit between two terminals connected with a suitable source of electricity. The switch itself may be placed at any point in the station or system. As shown in the drawings, it is mounted upon the station switchboards, inaccessible for prompt manual operation. WVhen thrown to one position, as will be evident from an inspection of the diagram, the magnet 10 will be energized and the armature drawn up to the position indicated in Fig. 1, the steel shoe 15 being latched under the squared shoulder in the end of the detent 18. When the switch-button 2a is turned to the other position, the coil 16 is energized, attracting the armature 14 (see Fig. 1) and shifting the :pin 19 through the slot or enlarged hole in the detent, thereby accumulating a certain amount of momentum in the armature and giving a sharp blow to the detent 18, releasing the armature 7, which under the pressure of the plunger 21 rapidly opens the circuit. During the open ing movement the bridging-contact 6 first breaks contact with the contact-terminals 5 5 separate a moment later, absorbing the spark.

The location of these contacts at the top of the apparatus prevents any danger of fire or other injury from heat to the parts. The armature 7 drops back to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and when the circuit of the magnet 10 is again made there is no resistance to motion except the small overbalancing effect of the top of the armature, and, as will be understood from the description of the construction of the armature, the air-gap is very short at its lower portion, providing an effective action in starting it into movement when the circuit is closed. Then it is drawn up to a position of substantial parallelism with the face of the pole-pieces and the air-gap is short throughout the whole field of force, it engages the plunger, and at this position of maximum effect it forces the inclined face of the flexible bridging-contact 6 hard against the fixed contact-terminals 5 5, thereby making good contact. It will be noted that the laminae of the bridging-contact will be substantially in line with the fixed contacts and that the contacting face forms an acute angle with the laminze. This brings them together with a sliding motion, which is effective in keeping the contactsurfaces clean and making good connection.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising fixed contact-terminals, an armature carrying a bi'idgingcontact, auxiliary shunt ing-contacts to absorb the spark of rupture, a switch-operating magnet housed between the armature and the base, and a releasingmagnet and tripping devices between the plane of the switching-armature and the base.

2. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising a circuit-cl0sing armature, an operating-magnet, the armature being journaled to move to and from the field-poles over a wide air-gap and having a curved face near the journal to maintain a continuously-varying short air-gap thereat throughout its entire range of motion.

3. The combination of a magnet having split pole-pieces firmly engaging the ends of its core, and an armature cooperating with the said pole-pieces pivoted near the face of the pole-piece and provided with a curved edge to maintain a short air-gap in part of the magnetic field throughout the entire range of motion of the armature.

4. A magnetically-controlled switch comprising a setting-magnet, an armature moving in a plane at right angles to said magnets axis and cooperating with both its poles, main and shunt contacts for an electric circuit, a magnetically-controlled trip, and a springpressed pin to assist Withdrawal of the armature, said pin being mounted so as to engage the armature only after the latter is close to the poles of the magnet.

5. A magnetically-controlled switch co1nprising a magnetically-controlled armature IIO memo carrying the movable contacts supported for armature while the air-gap is long and the 10 movement to and from the base, a controlling torque weak.

magnet between it and the base, an extension- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my arm to the armature, magnetically-controlled hand this 2d day of November, 1899.

tripping devices for the armature between the extension and the base, a stop to arrest the WILLIAM EMME'J armature when released, and a spring arerupturing device strained when the switch is closed, but permitting free movement of the Witnesses:

BENJ. B. HULL, MABEL E. J AOOBSON. 

